A Scenario for Song ofthe Hozoin Zen school. oe is In-alithe twens ofthe. combat, PLAYER'S INTRODUCTION I ay hare EIN ORE and ee est onegorcontolid nipponisn: peace tat rea “= I Ninja Characters of inrroouction ‘ceeded in ensuring that thet Richard Edwards by the enemy- fragile one that threatens to F G ee ee rae emcees WEN ily sue: This is what Is always to be ramombered using the guide- Bushido, but designed to be - become Regent for his son, {ines Inthe series _ vlevablewihanyrole-playing- Myomitsu. Go-Masakado t .* Night's Dark inet Magnes B a hisesu ary rat ea at ake Z we _a Agents, the ADED chorecier classi vice tobecomes Buddhist FotADSD, players fammtimen nina Mun eet Nw should use the nin, angreasine Payers chnaion fallow ie oxo ninja character Yasuo eres E: class presented son, the Masanobu have not ae Overiooked the fact that the as elsewhere in this palace is close to the powerful i Kaisu-Butsu monastery at M = ou ‘Yasu, 8 perennial thorn inHOUR OF THE TIGER, their side, nor that the Western are hoping to recapture power. colleagues, trussed up like 2 asliding door, you're entitled clans bitterly resent their dom- Itis thought they are trying to Christmas turkey! The ex. _to have it squeak when they. ination and seek to endit.... persuade Go-Masakado-in to Emperor has a bodyguard of open it. It should be up to the ‘come out of retirement to act yamabushi (warrior monks) _ players to make the running, REFEREE’S INTRODUCTION as his son’s advisor. Such anand Yesusada will bring his enabling you to throw chal- ‘The mission can be tackled inaction would mean that their own samurai. lenges attham if they look like anumber of ways,sowehave claim to be acting in the '3. The Game Plan. The becoming complacent. Don't divided the rest of the Emperor'sinterests by remov- descriptions of the various __go wild with this, as too many, referee's material into three ing corrupt officiate would be locations are general rather wandering guardsor sewvans fnain-sections; Running the seentohaveimperiel suppor). then deiledThisis because could lead to the mission ‘Scenario, The Locations, and An agent has been planted in in a multi-system scenario it going up in smoke, and the Non-Player Characters. the household of Yasusada, would simply take too much _idea Is to encourage them to and they will make their way space to give details for each _ think their way through rather Running the Scenario to the palace along with Akih- one, and that there isno way than tokill them off. Always be 1. Preparation. Before doing iro, Yasusada’s chief retainer, of knowing exactly what prepared to call a time out, anything with the players, and the restof the advance "details are worth putting in. _andlet them discuss their next make sure that you are famil- party, inten daystime.Onthe This would vary from referee _ move. General points: there jar with the general layout of night of that day, they will to referee, So, ance you have are no windows as such, light the palace and grounds. This make their way to thetes__briefedithe players, and they coming in through shoji, oF scenario isnot meant to be pavilion called Shokintei on havemadetheir preparations, _sliding doors with translucent tackled in one go, but as three the eastern side of the palace what do you do? For astart, panels. Underfloor and roof separate infiltrations. This is grounds, and identify them- make the players do.alotof spaces in the palace are rig- to give the players (and your- Selves tothe agentwith the the work. Once they have met ged with threads linked to self) e couple of practice runs phrase ‘The moon inthe cold with the agent, they will have _bells, andthe threads must be before the main mission, and streamlikeamirror’. Themis- a good general idea of what found and cut ta avoid setting allow them to conduct a off the alarms. Entry to the thorough reconnaissance of Wi roof space is easiest through the target. You should allow small openings, two or three the players as much time as along each wall. These are they need for preparation, as barred, and in any case get- ifthisisnotdone properly, the ting through them will involve ‘scenario will be difficult for Use of nawanukejutsu (dislo you to run, and frustrating for cation of limbs). Weather con: them to play. As well as %| ditions for the first two parts choosing their point and should be cloudy, with a light method of entry, and the wind, but forthe final part, the ‘equipment they will take with night will be still with 2 full them, they should also think ‘moon andno clouds. (Heh heh). aboui how they will prepare ‘4, Mapping. As you can see, fortheir escape, how they will the rooms are marked into divide the mission between squares corresponding to them, and how the guards will F their size in tatami, or mats. be dealt with. (In the first two Two squares are equal to one Sections of the mission, mat, 50 you can therefore guards or servants should not describe a room as being so be killed unless absolutely many mats in size, and if unavoidable, and then the necessary sketch out the lay- bodies should be disposed of lout. The palace is too large so that they will not be found. land complicated for players to Even if this is done, a sudden {{map in detail, but they should disappearance will result in aim to get a good idea of the extra vigilance on the part of layout and general size of the guards.) Most impor- rooms. The fact that Japanese tantly, they will need to think rooms were all standardised about whet they will need to around the size of matsmeans do to achieve their mission that players can tell the exact and how this can be done. Do size of a room without having they go in together, or sepa- sion thus has three phases; the layoutofthe buildingsand to measure it rately; does one map andthe entry to the grounds and the grounds is, which will stop 5. Patrols. A number of ‘others guard; does one or rendezvous with the agent, a you having to act as atalking _bulidings in the grounds are more of them remain outside reconnaissance of the palace, guidebook all the time. The _ being used as guard posts. to cover an escape? What are andeavesdropping onthe plans you have to work from The routes taken from these. their objectives, and whatdo meeting between Emperor _—_are detailed enough to give _by patrols are marked on the they fall back on? Encourage anddaimyo. Absolute secrecy mostof the information you mapofthe grounds, Generally them to discuss these sortof | isessential until the mission will need to know on what _—_ speaking, guards will patrol points thoroughly, itwillbe succeeds or is exposed. if dis- goes on where, and the iden-_{wosal fairly regular intervals, worth it. covered, thegenin (player tity of individual rooms. Your but there will always be one at 2. The Mission: Youcan use characters) will have tomake most important role, though, each post. Ifthere is reason for this section more orlessword their escape as best they can. will be to respond to what the _ suspicion you can have more for word, if you like, exceptfor |f successful, they should players do, and fill in the guards, more frequent pat- anything in brackets, which is ‘make their presence known’ details es necesary. Ifthey _fols, and other changes. Both for your eyes only. onthe way outtoact asa approach the mission intelli-_ gates are well guarded. In Yasusada-sama, a vassal of warning to Yasusada that he gently, things should go fairly effect, the number of guards the Masanobu, isto visitthe | Isunder suspicion. Make sure Smoathly for them. Ifa player available can be considered to retiredEmperortopayhis thatthe playersknowthe wants to sneak in somewhere be unlimited. respects in two or three retired Emperor, Son of Unseen, and lets you know weeks. What passes between Heaven is strictly off limits. _thattheir character isdoing all LOCATIONS themttheirmeeting must be Any actual or attempted vio- the right things, itis unfair for ‘The Gardens (Map 1). The well known. [Yasusada, although lence toward the retired them to fail because the dice around the palace is 12’ high, alliedtothe Masanobu, issus- Emperorwill resultinthe _sayso, Onthe otherhand, —_—_ with ridge tiles along its top, pected of being a go-between offending party being leftout- whatever the dice say, if ‘The moatis fairly shallow, forthe Western daimyo, who side the main gate by his own someone forgets to lubricate about4-5', and’ wide, but > 25MAP 1: THE PALACE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS KEY. 1: Gate for theEmperor 2: Inner Gate 3: Ordinary Gate 4: Palace Buildings 5: Guard House 6 Sentry Post 7: Tea Pavilion 8: Sentry Post 9: Guard House 10: House Temple 11: Barracks 12: BoatHouse 13: Store Houses ‘Stone Wall Bridge Tree Building Water MAP 2: THE TEA PAVILION (Called Shokintei — 7 on Map 1) key 1: FirstRoom 2: Open Tea-Kitchen 3: Second Room Re 9: Inner Court a: Tokonome (picturerecess) : Tana wallshelves) @: Wall Cupboard 4 Fireplace with Wall Cupbogrd above e: Fireplacefortes Ceremony f. Wallhalves g: Stone Water Basin » B: Stone LanternOU) Single Sliding Door? Double Sliding Door Hinged Door Boarded Floor(usually 4 veranda or corridor) & Stone Step 5 Stone Path Raised Stone Path MAP 3: THE PALACE key, & entrance 2: Ante-Room 3: Spear-Room a Room with Fireplace irst Room, Second Room of the Ko (old)—Shoin ‘contemplation of themoon : Waiting Room : Room with Musical Instrument (Koto) Firstand Second Rooms of the Shin (new)—Shoin : Tea Kitchen ‘Ante-Room Bedroom, Dressing Room ‘Administrative Rooms New Waiting Rooms Tokonome (picturerecess) Tana (al shelves) Shoin (bay reading window) “Inner Gate > Platform: Wall-Cupboard Builtin Privy, ‘Washroom BathroomHOUR OF THE TIGER the banks slope steeply and yamabushi are in the section tofindhis reasons toreoming.) prepare well, they should, add another 6 tothis. The of rooms marked 28, and Yasusada void direct encounters. The depthofwaterinthelakesand Yasusada’s party are inthe There sno village where the odd quard or servant wander- streams is variable, but fooms marked 30. Careful moan does nor shine, ing about will help keep them always deop enough to cover reconnaissance willrevealthe But tis clear in the hearts of alert during the mission, but someone lying flat Apart general layout, although enlightened men. only ifthey getinto a fight fromthe section nearthe going via roof or underfloor (The Emperor, the moon, is should large numbers start palace, which consists of Spaces will only give clues if revered byaall, butonly the turning out. Even then, be lawns and moss gardens, the therooms below oraboveare pureandenlightened cen” _sure to leave an escape route, groundsarerusticwith plenty occupied. Most samurai and carty outhis will properly). and chase the players out, yamabushi will be asleep Go-Masakado-i: rather than cornering and When the ninja goin, butyou The moon’s reflection is deep Gestroying them. Use as many The Tea Pavilion (Map 2). The can have a few awake, gam- in the lake, guards as you need to do this, agent in the advance porty is bling, praying, or shiftingon Yet youcan carry it away ina Snd nave them act intel infact akunoichi (female. guard duty, tomake sure dipper gently rather then queuaing ninja) posing as a courtesan nobody stumbles into a room _/f your hand is steady. Sp to be zapped, (Remember, called Yuko, who has accom- full of armed men unaware. (Iwillgiveyou my Supportif Spears ean be used through panied Mangara Naotaka, one When Yuko is found, she will can be sure that you are paper walls.| of Yasusade’s personal tell the players thet Yasusada trustworthy and have firm in AD&D, have samurai guards. Although seldom if hasbeen granted the unusual support from other daimyo.) guards as {st and 2ndlevel Bveralone, she has managed honour ofbeing invited bythe Yasusada: fighters wearing scale mall to make a sketch map of the @x-Emperorto view the moon The pine has no voice, and helmet, and armed with palace and grounds, which is with him from the platform. Butinthe Westernwinditsings. Spear and bastard ouere Concealedin thedesign onthe outside his roomsmarked 8. (Ispeak on behalfof the {kstana) There should be fan she carries. Unable to This will take place in two Western daimyo.) fewer yamabushi, but these move alone outside without will be 2nd and 3rd level arousing suspicion, she has 5 monks using halberds persuaded Naotake, (who is 4 (nagineta). Naotaka and infatuated with her) to takeher Akihiro should be 6th and 7th tothetea pavilion foran infor 5 J level fighters respectively if mal tea ceremony. Their i they need to appear. liaison is already frowned Ip RuneQuest, the guards Upon, and use of the Imperial should have skills of about pavilion by a commoner is 40-50% in bastard sword and scandalous, so several of yy long spear, heavy scale Naotaka’s samurai are posted armour on chest and arms, at the bridges leading to the 3 and open helms. Yamebushi pavilion to warn of anyone should have 50-60% skills with approaching. Having served pole axe (naginata), and teain the inner tearoom Naotaka and Akihiro will have (Room 4) Yuko will retire with 4 80-90% skills in bastard Naotaka to Room 1, while her " sword, end have had time to maids waitin Room. She will y don fuil armour. NPCs should play the koto, and sing a song H i ijot have any battle magic. Whose refrain is x Servants and other non combatants are there to penic of shrubs and mature trees. The moon in the cold stream . = and get in everybody's way. fike a mirror, in Bushido, guards can be Theimage lett bohind 9 firstievelclaésie bush, ond shadoworits giory. have Armour Class 6 armour. Yamabushi will follow the This refers to her fan, which ao rules on page 8 of Book 2 of she has let behind in the tes : the rules: Naotaka and Akihiro fom. You may have to drop should be Sth and eth fevel hints to ensure the players / Bushi, with Armour Clase 7 realise she is without a fan, armour andput wo and two together. : Butdontmakeittooessy. TS nightstime.onthenightofthe Go-Masskado-in eect Showhow the coded map. fulmoon atthe haurofthe Inthebranchesoftrepinethe Exbstience Points Comes out, drawafrechand tiger anauspicioushour ‘mean is-seen, pe a ‘ap, giving arough indica (about damjsAheavy guard Burin the lake it shines Budo according to how wel Tonof the relationship ofthe willbe posted, but ata dis- Unbroken toy iece eae Various pertsofihepelace, ereetditance. Being only 2" (lwillsupport your action, Wey tackle: RuneQyest | andthe lyoutoltnegrounds, simple monk iow. the Sonof butiheEmperor himself must Pavers canuse the breaks but not too much detail-She’ Heaven will serve ea, end notbecome diectlyinvalved) stan eene'a tts Of Rasalsoteh'amescageonthe then theywill ew the moon. "Abargainhasthereforebeen jeornea rom eater vce, fantosoy thotshewilltry to. Theconversation until then is struck Mints,suchasthemoon Apmis ant ene few find outwhen andwherethe only small talk, but, under. Emperorimage,shouldhelptne Sonmsn ayers will have few meetingwinthetmperoris coverofeompesing impromptu players understand the verse. GMyou shoul awerd sme fotake place. This means thot verses, they will begin to di amounts of experience points swells reconnoitring the cuss the matter in hand, The NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS gach time cri ig cscdons palace, they nowhaveto find key verses, along with thelr’ Wehaven'tgiven dewited— S2¢hytyoes kil Is used su Ferroom, which isone of meanings, are given below. statistics apart from those in Sessyully ov @ player has those inthe new waiting the section on patrots, but 2004, 'dea. (Don't be too. rooms (30) (See map of Go-Masakado-in: they shouldn't be necessary. 9enerous, Dut award af palace! On the surface of Firosawa Theadjectisnortofghttne Bante anysreaventy) ay Toke the mists thick samurai and yamabushi,— forespecally geod dese or The Palace (Map 3). Most of What s floating and what is although somecan bewasted 2)_capscisll good ideas or thelayout is el explanatory. sinking onthe way out. Their basic (2l6-Plaving. and for solvin The Emperor's quarters are\n Noman knows. function isto provide obste- Players complete sens seage the rooms marked 4,5,Gand (Therele itis mist, theex. cles forthe playerstoavola, fryers completing each sta 1227. Hisbodyguerdof Emperoris probing Vasusada andtoharrass’lf the players 9p8nemission successfully _ 2a